Red Fang meet their demise in »Rabbits In Hives« music video from the new album »Arrows«

Photos by James Rexroad

Portland, Oregon based heavy rockers Red Fang premiere new music video for the track »Rabbits In Hives« from their fifth full-length album, »Arrows«, out on June 4th, 2021 via Relapse Records.

Guitarist and vocalist Bryan Giles comments: “When I showed up at the funeral shoot I had no idea that all of these rock luminaries from the Pacific Northwest would be lavishing such heartfelt praise on the corpse of our band. It was an honor to say the least. It’s nice to know that when our number is up we will be missed!”

Guests include members of High On Fire, Yob, ILS, Gaytheist, Lord Dying and Danger Ehren. Bend, Ore.’s Boneyard Beer provide the magical, re-animating brew that ensures Red Fang’s future into the new year.

Directed by Ansel Wallenfang.

From Relapse Records:

Red Fang return with their highly anticipated new album, »Arrows«! Their first album in four years, everyone’s favorite beer-crushing, zombie-killing, air-guitar-contest-judging metal heroes are back in action, doing what they do best- AND MORE.

“This record feels more like »Murder The Mountains« to me than any record we’ve done before or since,” bassist/vocalist Aaron Beam ventures. “It doesn’t sound like that record, but »Murder The Mountains« was us doing whatever the fuck we wanted, and that’s what this is, too.”

»Arrows« was recorded at Halfling Studios in the band’s hometown of Portland, OR, with longtime collaborator Chris Funk, producer of »Murder The Mountains« and 2013’s »Whales And Leeches«. “Chris is a major influencer as far as the weird ambient stuff in between the songs and the creepy incidental noises within the songs,” guitarist Bryan Giles points out. “I think he definitely creates an added layer of atmosphere that we wouldn’t have otherwise.”

»Arrows« is also a proper title track, which is new territory for the band. “This is the first time we’ve named an album after a song that’s actually on the album,” Beam explains. “We have other albums that are named after songs of ours that are not on those albums. So this time we’re really fucking with you because we didn’t fuck with you.”

Similarly, fans might not believe what the song »Arrows« is partially about. “If you’re confused by some of the lyrics to the song, that makes sense,” Beam explains. “But it makes reference to meditation. I started meditating six years ago, but I can only do it when I’m not feeling too anxious. So, when I don’t need it, that’s when I can do it.”

Elsewhere, »Fonzi Scheme« was named after legendary Happy Days cool guy Arthur Fonzarelli—if only because it’s in the key of his famous catchphrase, “Aaay”. Producer Chris Funk came up with the idea of bringing in string players from the Portland Cello Project to class up the track.

Meanwhile, the opening riff of closer »Funeral Coach« was written 11 years ago. But it took until recently for the song to blossom into its full double-entendre glory. “I was driving around and I saw a hearse that said ‘funeral coach services’ on the back,” Beam explains. “So the first thing that popped into my head was a dude with a headset and a clipboard going, ‘Alright, dudes—more tears! Five minutes in is when the tears are critical, or no one’s gonna believe that anyone cares that this person died’.”

In a nod to tradition, »Arrows« will be available in formats that include all the drums, bass, guitars and vocals. But it could’ve gone another way. “Our original idea was to release the album with no vocals or guitar solos,” Beam explains. “If you want the guitar solos, it’s an extra five bucks. If you want the vocals, it’s an extra ten bucks. So basically people should feel lucky that we didn’t do that. You get to buy the whole thing altogether.”

Red Fang think of it as a generous display of gratitude toward their fans. “Yeah,” says Sherman, “Thank you for buying our album, you lucky bastards.”

Red Fang is:
Aaron Beam – Bass/Vocals
Bryan Giles – Guitar/Vocals
David Sullivan – Guitar/Vocals
John Sherman – Drums

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well